How life has changed in Wandsworth

Wandsworth's population increased by about 46,600 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 310,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Wandsworth increased by 17.9%, from just over 260,000 to 307,000.

The addition of almost 47,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wandsworth was home to, on average, 64 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Wandsworth

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Wandsworth increased by one year, from 31 to 32 years.

This area had a lower average age than London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 15,000 people between the ages of 30 and 39 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by about 800.

About 23.0% of people in Wandsworth are aged between 30 and 39 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Wandsworth by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

Wandsworth saw London's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

In 2011, just under one in eight (11.8%) households in Wandsworth had an unmarried couple, compared with 10.0% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising just one person decreased from 36.6% to 32.3%.

Across the region, only Islington saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple (from 9.4% to 11.5%).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across London

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Wandsworth that rented privately increased from 23.3% to 31.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in five (20.3%) households lived in social housing, compared with 22.8% in 2001. The percentage of Wandsworth households that owned their home decreased from 51.6% to 45.5%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of London (from 15.3% in 2001 to 25.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Wandsworth increased by 8.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Wandsworth, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Wandsworth

The percentage of Wandsworth residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 4.6% to 4.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.0%, while the percentage of Wandsworth residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 93.5%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 5.8% in 2001 to 5.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Wandsworth

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Wandsworth, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 7.3 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 29.3% of respondents in Wandsworth said they had no religion, up from 21.9% in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.3% to 22.7%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 57.5% of respondents in Wandsworth said they were Christian, down from 67.8% in 2001. About 8.8% said they were Muslim, up from 5.7% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Wandsworth increased by 7.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Wandsworth by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Wandsworth residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.2% to 3.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87.3%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74.6% in 2001. The percentage of Wandsworth residents that described their health as fair decreased from 18.3% to 8.9%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Wandsworth decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Wandsworth, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Wandsworth

In 2011, 10.9% of Wandsworth residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 7.8% in 2001. The 3.1 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across London, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 13.2% to 18.5%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 71.4% of people in Wandsworth said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 78.0% in 2001. About 10.7% said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, compared with 9.6% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 3.4% to 5.0%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Wandsworth increased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Wandsworth by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Wandsworth residents that were self-employed increased from 9.2% to 12.1% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (58.7%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 57.6% in 2001. The percentage of Wandsworth residents that were unemployed decreased from 3.9% to 3.8%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 9.0% in 2001 to 11.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment in Wandsworth increased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Wandsworth, London and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

Wandsworth stood out from other areas for relationships

The percentage of married people increased in Wandsworth, while falling across London and England.

In Wandsworth, the proportion went up from 32.1% in 2001 to 33.2% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion fell from 41.7% to 40.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Wandsworth remained close to 54.2%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner decreased from 9.0% to 8.9%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Wandsworth working less than 16 hours increased from 1.5% to 2.2% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 15.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.0% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Wandsworth residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 0.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.2%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.0% in 2001 to 1.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Wandsworth remained close to 0.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Wandsworth by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Wandsworth with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 6.4% to 6.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in four (24.3%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 22.4% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Wandsworth without children decreased from 71.2% to 69.4%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across London

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

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